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‘School budget cuts result of Tory/DUP austerity agenda’ - Mullan

Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has said sustained reductions to school budgets are a result of Tory/DUP austerity.

The party’s Education spokesperson was commenting after a report published by the Audit Office found that budgets for schools in the north have reduced by about 10 percent over the past five years.

Karen Mullan said:

“This news has emerged on the same day that DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds told the media that his party would have to consider whether it continued to support the ‘Tory domestic agenda’.

“His concern is not about cuts to public services but about whether or not the DUP gets the kind of Brexit it wants.

“Nevertheless, that is a frank admission that the DUP are actively propping up the very same cuts that are impacting on our schools and public services.

“The restoration of the Assembly and Executive will not of themselves address the funding issues facing education. That can and will only be done when the British government abandons its austerity agenda and restores the Block Grant to the levels that address the needs of the people of the north.

“I and my colleagues will continue to make the case for greater resources for public services and particularly for education.”